Alonso on pole

Hockenheim: After taking top spot on the grid a fortnight ago in the rain at Silverstone, Alonso has now put his Ferrari on pole in back-to-back races, and for the 22nd time in his Formula One career.

The Spaniard was comfortably quicker by half a second than local hero Sebastian Vettel, born just 28 miles away in Heppenheim. Vettel was forced to settle for second, with Red Bull teammate Mark Webber third, although the Australian has to serve a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.

Webber’s penalty means Michael Schumacher jumps up to third and is joined on the second row by another German in Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg. (reuters)